Closure for apparel-corsets.



No. 65|,955. 4 Patented June |9, |9uth` M. T. sHEARDnwN &.M.'DE PALKowsKA.

CLUSUB- FOR vAPPAREL CURS'ETS.

(Appliariou med Mar. 16, 1900.)

(No Model.)

ru: Noms wenn; co. Pnooufuo.. wAsHlNomN. n. c.

UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

MARION T. SHEARDOWNl AND MARIE DE PALKOWSKA, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

cLosuRr-i Fon APiDAREL-ooasi-:Ts

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters, Patent No. 651,955, dated .rune 41e, 190e.

r Application tiled March 16, 1900. Serial No. 8,891. (No model.) v

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that we, MARION T. SHEAR- DowN and MARIE DE PALKowsKA, citizensA closely, depriving it of freedom of movement,

weakening the muscles which are intended to support it, and often interfering seriously with the exercise of the proper functions of the internal organs. Such theory is incorrect, and such practice is not only harmful, but oftentimes defeats its own object so far as concerns the securing of a graceful shape. A more correct theory is that a perfect poise and carriage of the body should be secured first by instruction and training and that the corset should be formed to fit the figure, confinement of the body and interference with its free movement and with the exercise of the proper functions of the organs being avoided.

It is therefore theobject of this invention to produce a corset that shall fit the body when the proper figure has been secured and shall afford the proper freedom for the body and its organs, avoiding particularly the sinking in about the region of the diaphragm, permitting correct breathing and giving a long and graceful line from the shoulder to the waist-line.

In accordance with the invention the corset is provided with a wide elastic front, which insures the proper fitting of the corset tothe figure at all ti1nes,`but yields readily to permit expansion or other movement of the body and avoids altogether the pressure of steels, bones,` buttons, or fastenings of any description directly upon the diaphragm.

In the drawings in which the invention is illustrated, Figure l is a perspective view of the improved corset, and Fig. 2 is a detail view illustrating the manner of forming the body of the corset to give itthe proper shape.

The body of the corset above the waist-line has a spreading flaring shape to conform naturally to the bust of the wearer, and below the waist-line it has considerable spring to conform to the hips of the wearer, and in order that the lines of the entire garment may be in complete harmony with a perfectlypoised and symmetrical figure each half A may be conveniently formed or made up of the several parts or pieces represented iu Fig. 2, each of such parts or pieces being suitably cut o r shaped, about as represented, so that when stitched together they shall have the proper shape, as above described. At the front edge of each half of the corset are secured a number of pairs of elastic bands a and ct', the bands of each pair being secured at somewhat widely separated points and con verging in V shape to a common point and there provided with a detachable fastening device of any suitable kind, such as a button b, which may coperate with a stud b on the-front edge of the other half of the corset, whereby the corset can be readily fastened and unfastened. Each converging pair of elastic bands secured to one side of the corset corresponds to a similar pair secured to the other side, the one pair overlying the other, but in the opposite direction. Several pairs of bands are distributed along the edge of each half; but the several pairs are preferably not of uniform length, those at the top and over the diaphragm, where the natural expansion of the body in breathing is the maximum, being preferably longer than those lower down, (at the waist-line or below,) where the expansion is less, thus securing a better adaptation of the corset to the different parts of the body. The bands are of such length as to allow a normal separation of the front edges of the corset-body by a distance of several inches, so that the pressure of steels,

. bones, or fastening devices directly upon the diaphragm is wholly avoided. It will be observed, moreover, that a comparatively-small number of fastening devices is required, so that the fastening and unfastening of the corset are easily effected and yet that the strains to which the corset is subjected in accommo-i dating itself to the movements of the body are so perfectly distributed by reason of Vthe V`shaped arrangement that there is no undue strain at any one point and that the corset is always kept closely fitted to the body, like aglove, a high degree of flexibility in every direction being attained. I

We claiml as our inventionl. A corset having a series of elastic bands,

to engage the other edge of the corset, substantially as shown and described. d

. 3.k A corset having an open front, a series of V-shaped pairs of elastic bands secured at their diverging ends along edges of the corset, and `every pair of bands having fasten? ing members at their converging free ends', and fastening members secured along both edges of the corset between the diverging ends of the said elastic bands for engagement with the f astenings on the bands.

This specification signed and witnessed this 12th day of March, A. D. 1900.

MARION T. SHEARDOWN. MARIE DE.PALKO`WSKA.

In presence of- ANTHONY N. JESBERA, W. B. GREELEY. 

